Continuous rolling-mill.



V. E.- EDWARDS.

CONTINUOUS ROLLING MILL.

(No Model.)

(Application filed Mar. 1, 1897.)

Patehted June 4, Mil.

4 Sheen-Sheet l.

'Fld.

WITNESSES INVEHTEIR:

Patnted June 4, I901.

No. 675,59l.

V. E. EDWARDS.

CONTINUOUS ROLLING MILL.

(Application filed Mar. 1, 1897.) (N0 Modei.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

n l l mru Wwylasszg;

Patanted June 4, IBM.

V. E. EDWARDS. CONTINUOUS ROLLING MILL.

(Application filed Mar. 1, 1897.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

No. 675,59I. Patented June 4, l90l.

v. E. EDWARDS.

CONTINUOUS ROLLING MILL.

(Application filed Mar. 1, 1897.) (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

Fml5 L WITN SSES:

nTTEn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VICTOR E. EDW'ARDS, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

CONTlNl-JDUS ROLLING-MILL.

SPJEIQIFIUJATIGN forming part of Letters Patent No. 675,591, dated J une 4, 1901.

Application filed March 1, 1897. Serial No. 625,577. (No model.)

To (tZZ whom, it nwq concern.-

Be it known that I, VICTOR E. EDWARDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at lVorcester, in the county of Vorcestcr and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Continuous Rolling-Hills, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, formimg a part of the same, in which- Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a portion of a rolling-mill embodying my invention shown in vertical sectional view, the plane of the section being taken through the rolls between the housings. Fig. 2 represents an end view of a pair of rolls and the housing therefor comprised in my improved rolling-mill. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the same shown on line 3 3, 2. Fig. 4 is an end view of the housing inclosing the pinions by which the upper and lower rolls of a pair of rolls are operatively connected. Fig. 5 is a side view of the same, partly shown in central vertical sectional view on the line 5 5, Fig. 4. Fig. 6 repre sents a side view of a pair of rolls and their housing and a pair of driving-shafts connected together with pinions and the housing therefor, with the means for operatively connecting said rolls and driVingshaft, the intermediate connecting mechanism between the upper roll and its driving-shaft being shown in full and that between the lower roll and its drivingshaft being shown in central vertical sectional view. Fig.7 represents avertical sectional view on the line 7 7, Fig. (3. Fig. Sis avertical sectional view, on a larger scale, of the connecting clutch-sleeve between the upper roll and its driving'shaft, a section being shown on line 8, Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is a hori zontal sectional view on the line 9 9, Fig. 2, showing the device for moving the box supporting the lower roll laterally. Fig. 10 is an end view of one of the boxes supporting the lower roll. Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view of the part shown in Fig. 10, the section being shown on line 11, Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is an enlarged view of the portion of the wormshaft employed for adjusting the lower roll verticallyand represented in Fig. 8. Fig. 13 is a top view of the guide-plates by which the rod or band to be rolled is diverted into the semicircular path leading to the second set of rolls. Fig. 14. is a sectional view of the same on line ll 14., Fig. 13. Fig. 15 is a sectional view on line 15 15, Figs. 13 and 14. Fig. 16 is a top view of the guide-plate by which the rod or band is diverted into the semicircular path after leaving the second pairs of rolls. Fig. 17 is a sectional view on line 17 17, Fig. 16; and Fig. 18 is a sectional view on line 18 18, Figs. 16 and 17.

Similar letters refer to similar parts in the different figures.

My present invention has for its objects to provide means for guiding the rod through the several pairs of rolls comprising the continuous mill and at the same time allowing any ovcrfeed to form a loop, to provide means whereby portions of the guideway are made to yield whenever an unsurmountable obstacle occurs to the free movement of the rod, tov provide means for the adjustment and alinement of the rolls, and also to provide means for the removal of the pinions from the housings, and these objects are attained by means of the construction hereinafter de scribed, and set forth in the annexed claims.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 represents a continuous millcomprising three pairs of rolls, although the number may be increased, the rolls being shown in vertical soctional view between the housings.

A denotes the housings at one end of the rolls.

B, B, and B denote, respectively, the first, second, and third pairs of rolls comprised in the mill.

0 denotes an inclined guideway leading from the first pair of rolls and conducting the rod therefrom to a higher level above the second pair of rolls, where it communicates with a curved guideway 0, through which the rod is conducted downwardly and rearwardly to a position to enter between the second pair of rolls B.

From the second pair of rolls B the rod is conducted through a horizontal guideway C to a curved guideway 0 through which the rod is conducted downwardly and forwardly in an inclined guideway 0 through which the rod is conducted to a third pair of rolls. As the three pairs of rolls act at the same time upon the rod during its passage through the mill, it is necessary that the feed of each successive pair of rolls shall approximately correspond with the speed of the red as delivered by the preceding pair of rolls;otl1erwise the rod will either become stretched or a slack will occur. For example, if the speed of the second pair of rolls is greater than the speed of the rod as delivered from the first pair of rolls the rod will become stretched between the first and second pairs of rolls, but if the speed of the second pair of rolls is less than the speed of the rod delivered from the first pair of rolls the rod will form a slack or loop between the first and second pairs of rolls. As it is difficult to make the speed of each pair of rolls correspond exactly to the speed of the rod delivered thereto, it becomes necessary to make the speed of each succeeding pair of rolls great enough to prevent the stretching of the rod between each two pairs of rolls and provide means for controlling the slack or loop which may be formed by the surplus rod. I provide means for the control of the slack in the rod by making one side of each of the curved guideways O and O movable, whereby each of the curved guideways may be opened upon their convex sides to allow for the slack in the rod. The first curved guideway C is formed by a fixed side D, attached by screws D to a transverse bar D supported by the housing of the rolls B. The fixed side D is semicircular and extends from the upper end of the inclined guideway C to the under side of the'upper roll B. Opposite the semicircular section of the fixed side D is a finger D curved concentrically to the side D and pivoted upon a fixed rod D The finger D is provided with an arm D which is connected by the link D with the short arm D of a bell-crank lever pivoted upon a rod D and having a long arm forming a lever-handle D, by which the finger D can be raised so as to open the curved guideway O and allow the rod, if fed faster than the speed of the rolls B, to form a loop, as indicated by the broken lines D the loop so formed being supported by a trough D ,which is held by the housing of the rolls with its lower end in position to deliver the rod to the rolls B. Similar provision is made for opening the lower curved guideway C by means of a finger E, pivoted upon a rod E and provided with a handle E, by which the finger E can be raised to allow the surplus rod to form a loop, as indicated by the broken line E The upper side of the curved guideway, between the guideway O and the pivoted finger D consists of a removable piece F. (Shown in sectional view upon a larger scale in Figs. 14 and 15 and in plan View in Fig. 13.) The removable piece F is inserted between the sides F F of the guideway and is held by friction due to the pressure of the set-screw F which bears against one side of the removable piece, said set-screw being held in one of the sides F and pressing the removable piece F against the opposite side of the guideway. The removable piece F is provided with a shoulder F which abuts against the end of the guideway O, and the forward end of the piece F is vertically adjustable by means of an adjusting-screw F held in the removable piece F and bearing against the top of the guideway U. The lower curved guideway C is provided with a similar removable piece G, which is also held in position by friction due to the pressure of a setscrew G. The lower removable piece G is inserted between the sides G G of the guideway, and both removable pieces F and G are limited in their downward movement by means of shoulders F F in the sides F and shoulders G G in the sides G When bandiron is rolled, it is prevented from entering between the piece G and the shoulders G G3 by means of a tongue G upon the under side of the removable piece G extending below the shoulders G G and filling the space between the sides G G Figs. 2 and 3 represent devices for the independent vertical adjustment of the ends of each pair of rolls. These devices comprise a sliding wedge H, supporting the boxes at one end of the lower roll and capable of being moved parallel with the axis of the roll by means of the worm H engaging the rack H upon the under side of the wedge. The worm H is carried upon the spindle H journaled in suitable bearings and provided with a series of fixed collars H, which engage corresponding grooves in the journal-bearing and hold the spindle H from endwise movement. The spindle H extends through the opposite housingand is adapted at its outer end H to receive a wrench. The opposite end of the lower roll is likewise adjusted by means of a wedge I, capable of being moved parallel with the axis of the roll and provided with an arm I, which extends outwardly and upwardly and incloses a screw 1 placed parallel with the inclined surface of the wedge and held from longitudinal movement by its connection with the housing. Nuts 1 and I are carried upon the screw 1 and bear against the opposite sides of the arm I, so that the adjustment of the nuts 1 and 1 vary the position of the wedge I and vertically adjust the end of the lower roll. Each of the wedges J is provided with beveled upper surfaces which bear against correspondingly-beveled under surfaces of the caps J, so that the longitudinal adjustment of each of the wedges J will provide an independent adjustment of the opposite ends of the upper roll, substantially as described. The boxes K 'K, upon which the lower roll rests, are adjusted laterally by means of the nuts K K, Figs. 2, 9, and 10. The nuts K K engage bolts K K Fig. 9, the opposite ends of which terminate in the wedges K K held in recesses in the housing upon each side of the box K and having their inclined sides bearing against correspondingly-inclined sides K K upon each side of the box K. The wedges K K permit the boxes K to be adjusted in a horizontal plane by drawing one of the wedges outwardly and sliding the opposite wedge inwardly. The upper roll is supported upon boxes K which are held in a fixed position in the housing, and above the bearings of the upper roll are boxes K between which and the caps J of the housing I insert wedges J ,provided with arms I, which extend outwardly and upwardly and inclose screws J parallel with the inclined surface of the wedges J and held from longitudinal movement by the caps J. Upon the screws J are adjusting-nuts J and J which bear against the opposite sides of the arms J and serve to adjust the position of the wedges J, thereby allowing the independent vertical adjustment of the upper boxes of the upper rolls. The housings of each pair of rolls are mounted upon a track L, Fig. 6, in order to allow the lateral adjustment of the housings for the purpose of bringing the working bearings of the rolls into alinement with each other.

Each pair of rolls is driven by a pair of shafts M M, having coincident axes with the axes of the rolls and journaled in a housing N. The driving-shafts M M are connected together by pinions ll M, and the ends of the shafts M are provided with elutch-teetl1 M which enter the rotating sleeves 0, provided with corresponding internal clutchteeth O, engaging the clutch-teeth M The sleeves O are journaled at one end in a housing P and inclose the extension-shafts Q, which are bolted at one end to the shafts of the rolls and are provided at their opposite ends with clutch-teeth Q, which are engaged by corresponding clutch teeth in the sleeves O, causing the rolls to be driven by the extensionshaft Q through the sleeves 0 from the driving-shafts M. The internal clutch-teeth in the sleeves 0 extend the entire length of the sleeves, permitting the extension shaft Q to slide within the sleeves as the housings of the rolls are moved along the track L.

The driving-shafts M are journaled in annular boxes R, provided with flanges R, by which the boxes are attached to the housing N by bolts R The boxes fit openings in the sides of the housings concentric with the shafts M M and of sufficient diameter to allow the pinions M to pass through them when the annular boxes R are removed.

\Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In a continuous rolling-mill, the combination of a series of three pairs of rolls arranged in front of each other and in substantially the same horizontal plane, a guideway by which a rod, delivered from the first pair of rolls, is conducted above the second pair of rolls and delivered in the form of a loop at the rear of said second pair of rolls, means for supporting said loop and conducting it to the second pair of .rolls and a guideway leading from a point beneath the second pair of rolls to the third pair of rolls, substantially as described.

2. In a continuous rolling-mill, comprising three pairs of rolls arranged one in front of the other, the combination with said pairs of rolls, of a guideway leading from the first pair of rolls toa point above the second pair of rolls, a curved gnideway leading from above the second pair of rolls by which the rod is delivered to said second pair of rolls and at the rear thereof, a second curved guideway leading from the front of said second pair of rolls to a point beneath said rolls and a guideway leading from beneath said second pair of rolls to said third pair of rolls, said curved sections having their outer sides removable to provide for the loops caused by the overfeed of the rod, substantially as described.

3. In a continuous rolling-mill comprising a series of pairs of rolls, the combination with a series of rolls of a guideway comprising a curved section having the outer wall of said curved section movable to allow the escape of the rod from said guideway in the form of a loop, and a supporting-trough by which said loop is held, substantially as described.

i. In a continuous rolling-mill comprising a series of rolls and a curved guideway, the combination with said curved guideway of a removable piece forminga portion of the outer wall of said guideway and held in place by friction, whereby an undue pressure of the rod in passing through said guideway will displace said removable piece and form an exit for the rod, substantially as described.

5. The combination with the guideway of a continuous mill having a curved section, of a removable piece forming one of the walls of the guideway and held by friction between opposing sides of the guideway, said sides having shoulders, and a tongue projecting from said removable piece past said shoulders, substantially as described.

6. The combination with the rolls of a rolling-mill of mechanism for vertically adjusting the opposite ends of the lower roll in a pair of rolls and consisting of a sliding wedge under one of the boxes, a worm held from longitudinal movement and engaging said sliding \vedge,a spindle extending from. said worm to the opposite end of said roll, a sliding wedge beneath the box at the opposite end ofsaid roll, an arm extending from said wedge, a screw held from longitudinal movement and passing through said arm, and adjusting-nuts held on said screw by which said arm and wedge are moved, substantially as described.

7. The combination of a roll-housing and a pair of rolls held therein with the upper roll of said pair provided with upper and lower bearings, of fixed supports for the lower bearings of said upper roll, adjusting-wedges be tween the housing-caps and the upper bearings of said upper roll by which the bearings of said upper roll are adjusted for wear and held in position during the action of the rolls,

pair of roll-driving shafts having a pinion on each of said shafts in engagement with each other, of a housing provided with openings concentric with said shafts, said openings being large enough to permit the removal of said pinions, and removable annular boxes held in said openings, substantially as described.

VICTOR E. EDWARDS.

Witnesses:

M. 0. PRICE, RUFUS B. FOWLER. 

